Stratford, CT Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Section 142-5 of the Stratford Code makes it unlawful to emit noise beyond the boundaries of one's premises above the levels the chapter sets. The standards table lists the emitter's zone down the side and the receptor's zone across the top. The residential emitter row reads 62, 55, 55 and 45 dBa, the commercial emitter row reads 62, 62, 55 and 45, and the industrial emitter row reads 70, 66, 61 and 51. The column headers print Industrial, Commercial, Residential and Residential, and the printed table does not say which Residential column is which. Section 142-3 defines the residential zone as RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-4 and RM-1, and the commercial zone as Districts CA and LB.

Two add-on rules sit in subsection C. When background noise from sources outside the chapter already exceeds the table, a source causes excessive noise if it exceeds background by five dBA, and in no case can a source exceed 80 dBA at any time. Impulse noise cannot exceed 80 dB peak sound-pressure level during the nighttime to any residential noise zone, and subsection C(3) caps impulse noise at 100 dB peak sound pressure at any time to any zone. Section 142-3 defines nighttime as 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. from Sunday evening through Saturday morning, starting at 9:00 p.m. during daylight savings time, and 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on weekend nights.

Section 142-4 measures noise about one foot beyond the emitter's boundary, inside the receptor's premises, with a sound-level meter on slow response placed at least four feet above the ground. Subsection E exempts emergency noise, domestic power equipment during daytime hours, Town snow removal, licensed recreational events, and construction equipment during daytime hours, though nighttime construction must meet Section 142-5. Existing sources built before 1960 get a permanent 10 dBA allowance. The Director of Health inspects and measures under Section 142-9, and can grant variances under Section 142-11 within 15 days of an application.